Convolution-control cage for wirecoiling machine



May 31, 1966 D. P. WHITACRE CONVOLUTION-CONTROL CAGE FOR WIRE-COILINGMACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed .Dec. 9, 1963 IN VENTOR.

United States Patent 3,253,800 CONVOLUTION-CONTROL CAGE FOR WIRE-COILING MACHINE Donald P. Whitacre, 1013 N. Margarita Ave., Alhambra,Calif.

Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 328,950 8 Claims. (Cl. 242 83) Thisinvention relates to the wire-coiling art and is particularly directedto a device for coiling wire from a galvanizing or wire-drawing machine.

In my prior Patent No. 3,023,977, granted March 6, 1962, and in mycopending application for Wire-Coiling Machine, filed of even dateherewith, there are disclosed devices employing a rotary flyer forwrapping wire around a capstan or block, so that the wire falls bygravity into an annular coil, the individual loops of the coil lying ina random pattern.

The present invention is directed to apparatus for use with coilingmachines of the same general type shown in my patent and copendingapplication identified above, but which apparatus serves to produce adifferent type of coil of wire. Thec oil of wire produced by theapparatus of the present invention consists of a large number of wireloops of the same size but circumferentially staggered, so that thediameter of the individual wire loops is substantially less than theouter diameter of the coil and substantially greater than the innerdiameter of the coil.

Briefly stated, the device of the present invention employs a rotaryturntable coaxially positioned below a rotary flyer, together with anadjustable cage device which guides the wire convolutions in theirgravity fall from the coiling machine to a location on the turntablewhich is offset with respect to its rotary axis. While each wireconvolution is guided to form a wire loop in the same location in space,the turntable on which the coil is being formed continues to rotate,with the result that each wire loop in the coil is curcumferentialystaggered with respect to adjacent coils. The advantage of a wire coilof this type is that a greater length of wire may be stored in the coilfor the same outside diameter and axial length.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a novel form ofconvolution-control cage apparatus adapted to form a Wire coil of thestated type on a rotary platform below the cage apparatus.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation showing a preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional plan view taken substantially on lines 22, asshown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional side elevation taken substantially on the lines3-3, as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary sectional elevations takensubstantially on the lines 44, 55, and 66, respectively, as shown inFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of the type of wire coil formed by theapparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the wire-coiling machine generally designated10 is preferably of the type shown in my copending application referredto above and includes a frame 11 provided with a stationary, horizontalsupport 12. Stationary capstans or dead blocks 13, 14, and 15 ofprogressively increasing size are fixed relative to the frame-supportmember 12. A rotary-flyer assembly 16, including a hollow vertical shaft17, is rotated :by means of an electric motor 18 driving throughvariable-speed power transmission connections 19. A speed-oontrol handle20 mounted on the frame acts through chains 21 and 22 to control thevariable speed of transmission connections 19 and thereby regulate thespeed of the rotary flyer 16. The wire 26 passes around the lead-inpulley 25, downward through the hollow vertical shaft 17, around thedirection-changing pulley 27 mounted on the rotary. flyer 16. Any memoryor tendency of the wire to bend in any direction is removed by means ofthe killer-blockassembly 28, and then the wire passes over a series ofpulleys and rollers and is wound around one of the deadblocks. In theposition of the parts shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the wire isbeing wound on the deaclblock 14. Several turns of wire are wound on thedeadblock, and the last turn is held in place by a pressure roller 30,carried by the rotary flyer 16. The wire 26 then falls by gravity fromthe deadblock, forming one or more convolutions 31 as it drops over thecentral cylindrical mandrel 32 mounted concentrically on the turntable33.

The circular turntable 33 has a flat, upper surface 34, and theturntable is mounted on axially spaced bearings supported in a housing35 mounted in a pit 36 extending 7 below the floor line 37. Avariable-speed electric motor 38 mounted on the frame 10 is connected bya reduction gearing 40 to drive the turntable 33. The mandrel 32 turnswith the turntable.

In accordance with my invention, there is provided a convolution-controlassembly generally designated 40, which acts to position theconvo-lutions 31 of the wire 26 as it descends by gravity from thecoiling machine 10 to the turntable 33. As shown in the drawings, thisassembly 40 includes a'stationary, upright, hollow post 41, connected tothe frame 10 by brackets 42. A vertical plate 43 fixed to the post 41has opposite parallel, vertical edges which provide a t-rackway forrollers 44 and 45. These rollers 44 and 45 are mounted on a verticallymoving carrier 46, therolls 45 being adjustable by means of the thumbscrews 47.

Horizontal arms and 51 extend at right angles from the carrier 46. Nearits outer end, the arm pivotally supports the guidebar 52 between a pairof stop collars 53. The outer end of the guidebar 52 carries aprojecting portion 54, which extends upward at an angle. A counterweight55 balances the major portion of the weight of the guidebar 52. Abracket fixed on the arm 51 carries horizontal extension rods 61 and' 62for pivotally supporting the guide rod 63. Stop collars 64 hold theguide rod 63 in selected position, and a counterweight 65 balances themajor portion of the weight of the guide rod 63. The swinging end of theguide rod 63 carries a projecting finger 66, which extends downward andthen upward at an angle.

Another finger 67 projects upward and outward from the bracket 60. Thebracket 60 carries a horizontal slot 70 to receive a clamp bolt 71,received in a plate 72.(see FIGURE 2). The plate 72 supports ahorizontal stub shaft 73, having a gauge wheel 74, rotatably mountedthereon.

It will be noted that the fingers 66, 67, and 54 project upward andoutward away from the convolution 31 of wire 26.descending from thecoiling machine 10.

A counterweight 80, positioned within the hollow post 41 is connected bycable 81 passing over pulley 82 to the carrier 46, and thiscounterweight serves to counterbalance the major portion of the weightof the carrier 46, horizontal arms 50 and 51, and the apparatus mountedon said arms.

In operation, a mandrel 32 is placed on the center of the turntable 33,and the motor 38 causes the turntable and mandrel to rotate as a unit.The convolution-control cage is lowered along the trackway plate 43until the pivoted arms 52 and 63 and the gauge wheel 74 all rest on theupper surface 34 of the turntable 33. Power is then supplied to themotor 18 to cause the coiling machine to draw wire 46 through the pulleysystem and to wrap it on the deadblock 14 in a plurality of turns. Thewire 26 falling from the deadblock by gravity forms convolutions as itdrops down over the mandrel 32 and comes to rest on the turntable 33.The wire 26 rests in flat, substantially circular loops 84 of the samediameter and without any substantial helix angle. The loops 84 do notfall centrally around the mandrel 32 because each convolution 3 1 iscontracted by the fingers 54, 66, and 67 to move them so that the loops84 each have one portion thereof tangent to the central mandrel 32.Since the turntable 33 rotates as the convolutions descend, each loop 84is deposited in a circumferentially staggered position with respect tothe previous loop 84. A coil 85 builds up onthe turntable 33. As theheight of the coil 85 increases, the uppermost loops 84 in the coilcontact the underside of the horizontal arm 61, thereby lifting theentire convolution-control device 40, assisted by the counterbalanceweight 80. The pivoted guidebars 63 and 52- also ride on the uppersurface of the coil 85 as it is being formed. The gauge wheel 74 acts inturn on each wire loop 84, thereby maintaining a constant outsidediameter of the coil 85. When the height of the coil 85 approaches theheight of the mandrel 32, the wire in one of the convolution 31 is cut,the control device 40 is manually raised, and the completed coil 85 andmandrel 32 are removed as a unit. A new mandrel 32 is placed in centralposition on the turntable 33; the control device 40 is lowered intoposition; and forming of a new coil is begun. The operation of removingthe completed coil and beginning formation of a new coil may becompleted without stopping the coiling machine 10, if desired;

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I amnot to be limited to the details herein set forth, but that my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblock of awire-coiling machine and a horizontal rotary turntable comprising:non-rotary wire-contacting elements positioned below the deadblock andabove the rotary turntable and acting to shift each convolution of wiredescending by gravity from the deadblock in the same direction to alocation laterally offset from the axis of the turntable, so that loopsof wire are deposited in circumferentially staggered position to buildup a coil of wire.

2. A convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblock of awire-coiling machine and a horizontal rotary turntable provided with acentral upstanding mandrel comprising; non-rotary wire-contactingelements positioned below the deadblock and above the rotary turntableand acting to shift each convolution of wire descending by gravity fromthe deadblock in the same direction to a location laterally offset fromthe axis of the turntable, so that loops of wire are deposited over themandrel in circumferentially staggered position to build up a coil ofwire.

3, In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a rotary turntable, the combination of: asupport structure, means guiding the support structure for movementparallel to the axis of the turntable, and non-rotary wire-contactingelements connected to the support structure and acting to 4 shift eachconvolution of wire descending by gravity from the deadblock in the samedirection to a location laterally oifset from the axis of the turntable,so that loops of wire are deposited in circumferentially staggeredposition to build up a coil of wire.

4. In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a rotary turntable, the combination of z asupport structure, means guiding the support structure for movementparallel to the axis of the turntable, non-rotary wire-contactingelements connected to the support structure and acting to 1 shift eachconvolution of wire descending by gravity from the deadblock in the samedirection to a location laterally offset from the axis of the turntable,so that loops of wire are deposited in circumferentially staggeredposition to build up a coil of wire, and means on the support structureengaged by the wire loops for lifting the support structure along saidguide means as the height of the wire coil increases.

5, In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a horizontal rotary turntable providedwith a' central vertical mandrel, the combination of: a supportstructure, means guiding the support structure for vertical movement,nonrotary wire-contacting elements connected to the support structureand acting to shift each convolution of wire descending by gravity fromthe deadblock in the same direction to a location laterally offset fromthe axis of the turntable, so that loops of wire are deposited over themandrel in circumferentially staggered position to build up a coil ofwire, and means on the support structure engaged by the wire for liftingthe support structure along said guide means as the height of the wirecoil increases.

6. In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a rotary turntable, the combination of: asupport structure, including a pair of horizontal arms fixed at rightangles, a pair of counterweighted guidebars, one pivoted on each of saidarms, respectively, each guidebar having a non-rotary wire-contactingelement near its swinging end, another non-rotary wire-contactingelement on one of said arms, said wire-contacting elements beingpositioned to shift each convolution of wire descending by gravity fromthe deadblock in the same direction to a location laterally offset fromthe axis of the turntable, so that loops of Wire are deposited incircumferentially staggered position to build up a coil of wire.

' 7. In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a rotary turntable, the combination of: asupport structure, means guiding the support structure for movementparallel to the axis of the turntable, said support structure includinga pair of horizontal arms fixed at right angles, a pair ofcounterweighted guidebars, one pivoted on each of said arms,respectively, each guidebar having a non-rotary wire-contacting elementnear its swinging end, another non-rotary wire-contacting element on oneof said arms, said wire-contacting elements being positioned to shifteach convolution of wire descending by gravity from the deadblock in thesame direction to a location laterally offset from the axis of theturntable, so that loops of wire are deposited in circumferentiallystaggered position to build up a coil of wire, and means on the supportstructure engaged by the wire loops for lifting the support structurealong said guide means as the height of the wire coil increases.

8. In a convolution-control device for use with a horizontal deadblockof a wire-coiling machine and a rotary turntable, the combination of: asupport structure, means guiding the support structure for movementparallel to the axis of the turntable, non-rotary wire-contactingelements connected to the, support structure and acting to shift eachconvolution of wire descending by gravity from the deadblock in the samedirection to a location lateral- 5 6 ly offset from the axis of theturntable, so that loops of References Cited by the Examiner wire aredeposited in circumferentially staggered position UNITED STATES PATENTSto build up a coil of mm, a gauge wheel on the support structureengageable with each of the wire loops in turn 2,936,509 5/1960 242 83 Xto define the outer diameter of the wire coil being formed, 5 3106112910/1962 Crum and means on the support structure engaged by the wire forlifting the support structure along said guide means MERVIN STEIN Puma?Examiner as the height of the wire coil increases. D. E. WATKINS,Assistant Examiner.

1. A CONVOLUTION-CONTROL DEVICE FOR USE WITH A HORIZONTAL DEADBLOCK OF AWIRE-COILING MACHINE AND A HORIZONTAL ROTARY TURNTABLE COMPRISING:NON-ROTARY WIRE-CONTACTING ELEMENTS POSITIONED BELOW THE DEADBLOCK ANDABOVE THE ROTARY TURNTABLE AND ACTING TO SHIFT EACH CONVOLUTION OF WIREDESCENDING BY GRAVITY FROM THE DEADBLOCK IN THE SAME DIRECTION TO ALOCATION LATERALLY OFFSET FROM THE AXIS OF THE TURNTABLE, SO THAT LOOPSOF WIRE ARE DEPOSITED IN CIRCUMFERENTIALLY STAGGERED POSITION TO BUILDUP A COIL OF WIRE.